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1,634,328 E. J. LEES rIEJ'STING APPARATUS i July 5, 1927.

Filed July 20. 1922 Cfr Patented July 5, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ERNEST J. LEES, OF CLEVELAND, OI-IIO, ASSIGNR T THE LEES-BRADNER COMPANY, OF. CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

TESTING APPARATUS.

Application filed July 20, 1922. Serial No. 576,268.

This invention relates to apparatus for testing gear teeth to determine their accuracy or inaccuracy.

One object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of this character of relatively simple construction capable of testing gear teeth, whereby ltheir accuracy or inaccuracy. may be indicated or determined.

Another object of the V'invention is to`provide an improved apparatus ofA this char. acter in which means are provided for measuring inaccuracies in gear teeth.

A further object ot the invention is to provide an improved apparatus of this character in which the accuracy or inaccuracy oit gear teeth generated according to the ,mf

volute system may be readily determined.

Other objects of the invent-ion will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which my invention relates from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein F ig. 1 is a top plan view of an apparatus embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a section on thel linev2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. Fig. 1. y y y Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates a base or bedof any desired construction, but preferably supportedon a. plurality of legs il. The top 1 of the base or bed 1 is prefer ably disposed horizontally. Y The top 1a consists of a plane on which a frame 4 has sliding engagement as it'rotates about the axis oiE a gear A in the manner to be later set forth. The trame l may comprise a pair of bars la connected together at their oppositeJ ends and held in spaced parallel relation# ship by links ab, and an intermediate menr ber 4C preferably disposed between the bars l, The intermediate member'tC is formed with an opening ad to receive a suitable supporting means for the gear A, herein illustrated as a spindle or shaft 5, which (or an element thereon) may serve as a bearing for the -trame l to rotate on, as will be hereinafter set forth. The inner sideedge of the bars e and outer side edges of the member e areshaped toiiorm Iinter-engaging guide surfaces, whereby the bars l? .may be moved or adjusted relative to the member 4f by means indicated as an entirety at 6. Ot these moving means, (Sa indicates a rod eX 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of tending through. and having hearing in an rlhe inner end of the rod is screw threadedv and engages a nutlGc iiXed in an opening 6 formed in the member 4C (see Fig. 2). The rod 6a is held against endwise movement outwardly by a collar 7, which engages the innerit'ace ci the adjacent link 4t, to control its movement inwardly, I provide between the link 4 and a shoulder 6C (which shoulder may comprise a head byl which the rod 6a' is rotated), a spring 7, the collar 7 and spring 7a through their engagement with the Vlink 1b serving to insure movement of the `bars il relative to the intermediate member tuwhen t-he rod 6a is rotated in'one direction or the other. A

The base or bed 1 is formed with an opening 8, surrounding which is a depending member v9, preferably of tubular shape, adapted to receive a bushing 10, the latter being provided with an annular collar 11, which engages the top 1a and supports the bushingv in the tubular member 9. The tubular member' 9, as well as the strengthening ribs 12 and lugs 13 (to which the legs 2 are secured) are preferably formed integrally. The shaft or spindle removably tits the bushing 10, being provided with a ring 111 which engages a washer 15, disposed on the upper end of the bushing 10, to support the shaft or spindle in position. As shown in Fig. 2, the washer 15 extends circumferentially `beyond the inner periphery o-the intermediate frame member 11 to hold it, and through it the bars lla, in engagement with the` top 1a. At its lower end, the shaft or spindle 5 is preferably reduced, as shown at 16, and such reduced end is provided with screw threads to receivea nut 17, which may be tightened `against a washer 19. As the washer 19 engages the lower end of the `bushing 10, it will -be seen that thenut 17, when tightened, serves to removably secure the ring 14 in engagement with the washer and to prevent endwise as well las' vrotary movement'of the shaft or spindle 5. At its upper end thespindle 5 may be suitably shaped to engage the gear to be tested; since the -gear illustrated is formed `with an opening a through it, the upper end of the spindle is reduced to provide an arbor or support 2O for the gear A. In this form of construe.n tion, `the gear A may be removably held on and lined to the arbor 2O by a nut 21 en gagng screw threads 22 provided on that portion ofthe shaft or spindle vwhich ex-v tends beyond the arbor 20. y

23, 23,@indicateapair ofy abutments carried bythe frame 4, each abutment being` mount-Y ed on oneof the bars 4C, and preferably arranged equal distances from one enrdof the frame. As shown, the abutments are distaining the axis ofthe shaft 5 for a purpose4 y Each 1 abutf ment 23 preferably comprises a rollei' 23 posed upon opposite sides .offa plane conf which willlater be apparent.

i mounted on'a shaft 23') fixed in an opening 23c formedv inthe adjacent bar 1in. To eliminate friction, the roller'may consist of an anti-friction bearing having inner and outer races with balls between them.y In this form of constructi`on,the inner races :fitted to the upper end of the shaft 23b and may rest on a washer 230; whereas the outer race will serveastherotating element for a purpose that will later, appear. 1

, 24' indicates an annulus 5 and correspondingin diameter to one of the circles ofthe gear A, preferably the base circle thereof.,` Y The annulus 2a maybecon-V nected'to'tfhe yshaft 5 in a manner which per-V mits its removah'whereby an annulus Vof a different dia-metermay be substituted, when desired. i iItis not essential however thatl the annuhis 'be removable, for, asabovepstated, it'maybe fixed-to the shaft 5, as for example in some cases,`by formimg` it integral A 'with' the shaft 5.V The essential Yrequiref ments of the' socalled ,annuliis 24 are that itshall provide a circular edge or lcylindrical surface Vconcentric or co-aXia'l withv the axis ofthe gear A to be tested and that the outside diameter of said circle or i, cylinder shall be the same as that of one of the circles.

of the gear as above stated; and thatit shall provide a suitable surface oredge for engagement by the contact element 25 to be described. The 'word aiiniilus used for convenience y herein. particularly in the claims, is to be read with thisdelinitioii and is not to be restricted to mean only a ring.

25 indicates `ra contactelement.` extending transversely of the frame 4 and'disposed between the "abntinents 23 and the annulus 24,

lbeing heldagainst the. latterby the abutments, so that upon rotary movement of the vframe 4 on the collar l1 about its axis, the

' Contact` element 25 will roll on the annulus 24k, while moving,- in -an eiidwise direction on the roller abutments 23 relative to the frame i 4 during movement thereof about the axis of the shaft 5. Accordingly if the contact element 25 be marked at anypoint 'ofits'contact with the annulus 24, and the framell is then moved, suoli marked point will describe an invo'liite cur-ve. AiIn order to take advaii` tage of this principle of operation, I mount upon'the contact'element 25 a registering mechanism,A indicated as an entiretyat` 26 and a pivoted member 27, which constitutesy fixed to vthe shafty a describer, the nose of whichis disposed in,

engagement with a gear tooth and in registry with the point of contact betweenV the contact element 25r and' annuliis 24, andhence will describe Athe invol'ute curve in the manner already set forth when the frame lis moved. As shown in Figs'l and 2, the describer,27 Yengagesthe face of a toothof the gear A and rid-es thereon as `the frame 4' rotatesg.` accordingly, if the tooth face isy inaci curate, such inaccuracy will displaceor cause' or permit movement ofthe describer 27; '1

about its pivot, which movementl or displace- 4ment will be transmitted by the elements of theV registering mechanismtojits indicator 26a, whereby the amount ofl the inaccuracy will b-e indicated.

Of the .registering mechanism 26, indicates a` plate carried by the contact elementV 25, being lpreferably secured thereto by a plurality of screws 28. y 29 indicatesa ylever preferably integrally connected"k with the member 27 Vand `forming therewitha bell k'crank mounted on va pivot pin or shaft 3,0,y `which is supportedon the plate26". The

free end of the` lever 29 .carries a projecting eleinentf3l which engages a second lever32 i and the latter in turn engages a thrust rod 33 slidably mounted 'in a sleeve 34,. vThe sleeve 34. is supported between arpair,V of standards 35,ybeing removably held thereon by a clamping' screw 35a.y

The movement of the thrust rod 33 is indicated by the hand The sleeve34V `is connected tothe ycas-V l ing of the indicator 26H. The second lever '32 is mounted on a fulcruin or shaft 32a supported on the plate 26". The bell crank is lilo preferably removably'hcld on the. pivot pin i iioA coiding'ly. after the 'corresponding faces of all the gear teeth have'beenitested, rthese elements may be arranged or assembled in their other position and permitthetesting ofone or more of theoth-er faces of the gear teeth, without removing the gear A from the shaft oi' spindle 5. i Iii the. construction herein shown the 'contact element 25 is supported Vbetween the annuliis ,Maud theabutinciits 23. the l atter being held against the contact element by rthe rod 6a acting; through the bars 4a anclniember 4C, against the collar l1.. By positioning` between'itlie head 6" and the adjacent link 4b a springtwhich is compressed when the 4rod is operated', I Vprovide means that will exert a yielding ypressure upon the Contact iso element 25, so that sutlicicnt friction will be' created between it and the annulus 24 to cause the contact element to roll thereon without slipping while moving endwise en whenever the shafts are retracted Adue to thc p operation oi the rod 6". Then it is desired to move the traine d, registering mechanism 26 and descril'ier 2i' around into a new testing position tor testing the tace or laces oli one or more additional gear teeth, the head 0"" is rotated to more the bars il toward the lcl't as viewed in'Figs. l and 2, which operation retracts or mores the shafts 23" away i'ronidhe annulus el-fl, and 'allows the contact element 5 (which .vas held between the roller Q35 and annu'lus with the plate extending outwardly above the supporting 1nembers 37) to drop. As the supporting members 37 are below the plate 2o", they will be il by the plate and thus serve to sup port ir and the Contact element 25 until the head 6"" is again operated to effect re-engagement ott the Contact element between the rollers 23 and annulus 2li. The supporting members 37 may comprise disks, each secured to the upper end oi the adju` cent shaft in any desired manner.

To those skilled in the art to which my invention relates many moditications and widely dil'l'ering embodiments and applications of the invention will suggest themselves without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. it will be understood that the descriptions and disclosures herein are purely illin-zlrative and are not intended to be in any ense limiting.

1What l claim is:

l. In apparatus of the class described, the coml'iination oia base, a support mounted in said base and arranged to carry a gear, an annulus corresponding in diameter to one circle oi the gear txed to said support, a -trame, said shaftl and frame being mounted to permit relative movementV between them about the axis ofthe gear, a contact element engaging said aunulus and disposed between it and said traine and arranged to roll on said annulus when relative movement between said frame and support taires plac,

and nieans engaging the 'tace oll a gear tooth d uring such relative movement to determine inaccuracies therein. y

2, ln apparatus of the class deseriberhthe combination of a base, a support, mounted in said base and arranged to carry a gear, an

t moves about the annulus corresponding in diameter `to one circle of the gear fixed to said support, a traine mounted to rotate about the axis ot the gear, and a Contact element disposed between said annulus and said trame and arranged to rollon said annnlus and move relative to said frame as the latter rotates, and means engaging the tace ot a gear tooth during such rotary movement to indicate inaccuracies therein.

3Q In apparatus et' the class described, the combination oit' a support, a shaii't mounted on said support and arranged to carry a gear, an annulus corresponding in diameter to one circle ol the Oear carried by said shalt, a coiitact clement having a straight edge arranged to engage said armulus, means for .moving said Contact element about the axis oi said shalt, whereby itmay roll onv said annulns, and an indicating mechanism on said contact elennmtl having a member engaging the face of a tooth ot the gear, whereby in accuracies therein may be`determined.`

fl. .ln aplnnfatus of the class described, the combination' oi a support,`a shaft on said support arranged to carry a gear, an annulusI on said shalt corresponding in diameter to one oi'A the circles ot the gear, a frame mounted to rotate about the axis of the gear carried bysaid shaft, a pair ot abutmenls-carried 'by said traine, a contact clement dis posed between and engaging said abutmentsl and said annuluaI and arranged to roll on the latter while moving relative to said abutinents during movement oi said frame, and indicatingmeans having a describer on said contact element ii'or engagingv a gear tooth, whereby the same may be tested.

5. 1n apparatusoi the class descrilied, the combination ot a support, a. shatt on said support arranged to carry a gear, an annulla` on said shatt correslioruiing in diameter lo one of the circles oit the (rear, a :traine inounted to rotate about theaim of the gear carried by said shaft, a pair ot abutn'lei'its carried by saidtrame ato-pposite sii". ,i ot a plane containing the axis olf said shatt, a contact element disposed between and engaging said abutinents and said annulus and arranged to roll on the latter `while moving relative to loe llt)

said abutments during moven'ient ot said iframe, and indicating means having` a describer on said contact element 'tor engaging;A

Viu

while moving relative to 'saidabiitmcnts'dur-- ing movement of said frame indicating means having a describe'ron said contact element for engaging a gear tooth, whereby the saine may betested, land means for'inoving said abutments toward said Supporting meinber. 2

f7. In 'apparatus ofthe class described, the combination cfa support,a shaft on said support arranged to carry a gear, an annulus on said shaft corresponding in diameter to one of the` circles of the gear, a frame mounted to rotate aboutthe axis o-f said shaft, al pair: of abut-ments, each comprising a roller,- `carried by said frame at opposite sides of a pla-ne containing the axis of said shaft, a`

Contact lelement disposed between andengaging said abutments and vsaid annulus and arranged to roll on the latter while moving relative to said abutments during movement of said frame, and indicating means having a describer on said, contact element for engaging a gear. tootlnwhereby the same maybe i ktsted. i, v

8. In apparatus ofthe vvclass described, the

-combination of asupport, a shaft on said support arranged to carry agear, an annulus onA saidjshaft corresponding in diameter to one of the circles ofthefgear, a frame mounted to rotate about the axis Yof said shaft, a pair ofabutments carried by-saidlframe, a contactelement disposed between andengagf lng saidabutments and said annulus and arranged `to roll on the latter while moving tact element having a member for engaging a relative tov said abutments during movement of said frame, indicatingmeanson said congear toothface of a gear carried by .said shaft, whereby inaccuracies therein may be determined, and two sets of supporting means for said indicating means, whereby they may be assembled for operation upon either face of each gear tooth.

9. In apparatus Vof the combination of a shaft adapted to carry a gearaiid an annulus corresponding in diameter to one of the circles of the gear, arcontact elei-nent having a straight edge. or surface engaging said aiinulus, a support rotatable aboutthe axis of said shaft and engaging said Contact element to cause it to Vrolllon said aniiiilus Vandin'iove relative to said support, and an indicating mechanism having a member disposed in alignment withlthe point of Contact between said ele- ,inont and said annulus foi' engaging a gear tooth-face of a gear carried by` saidr shaft while said element is beingvoperated.

.10.' In apparatus of rthe class described, the combination :of aA supporting member adapted for pcsitioningaigear, an annulus` i arranged on said supporting member in concentric relation to the gear, `a, contact element .disposed in engagement withand arranged to rolll on said annulus, and indi-l tlie Vclass described,

eating mechanismy having a memberl carried by said contact element and arranged to engage a tooth of. the v.gear positioned on said snpporting member. f i, Y i

llQyInyapparatus of the class described, the combinationjof a shaft arranged to 'sup-V port a gear, an anniilus disposedconcentric to said shaft, a contact element disposed 'in engagement with said annulus, said contact elem-ent and said annulus being mounted to axis of ,said shaft, and "a describer vcarried by saidcontact'element and arrangedto engagea gear tooth Vof a gear supported ony said shaft as relative movement takes place between said element and said annulus.

12.In apparatusof the class described,

`the combination of a :shaft arranged to sup-v port a gear, an annulus'disposed concentric to said shaft, a coiitaetele'ment disposed in i engagement ,with said annulus,`me1ans for rolling said contact element about said annulus relative to the gear ksupported on said tact element and arranged to engagera gear shaft, and; a describer carried by saidcontooth of the saidgear as relative movement takes place between said V element and said shaft as relative movement takes `place between said element and said'l annulus.

141. In apparatus of vtheclass` described, i

the combinationpoffan annulus, means for supporting a gear in fixed relation andcon iit centric tosaid annulus, a `straight edge disposed in engagement lwith said aiinulus', said annulus and Said' straightvedge beingniounted for, relative movement whereby rolling contact one witlithe etlierisle'ected,

straight Aedgefand disposed 'iii engagement and a deseriber niovably kmounted on said with a geartooth face of a gearsupported i .by said means@ 15. In' apparatus ofthe4 class described,

ithe combinationof an annulus, means for supporting aV gear in fixed relation and conposed inkv lengagement with said annuliis, said annulus and said straight edge being centric to said vannulus,`a straight edge dis# mounted for .relative movement wherebyf i rolling contact one with the other Vis effected,

meansA forv yieldingly` maintaining said straight' edgejinengagement with said an. niilus, and a Y describer inovably `mounteail on 75 move relatively to each other about .the

Losanna said straight edge and disposed in engagement with a gear tooth tace ot' a gearon said gear supporting "means 16. In apparatus et the class described, the combination olf a pair ot members mounted to move relatively to each other about an axis and comprising an annulus and an element having a straight edge in contacting engagement with said annulus, means for maintaining said element in cngagement with said annuius to cause it to roll thereon while permitting it to move endwise during relative movement between said element and annulus, means tor supporting a gear in fixed relation and concentric to said annulus, and a describer carried by said element and arranged to engage a gear tooth of a gear on said gear supporting means during relative movement ot said element and annulus.

17. In apparatus ot the class described, the combination ot an annulus, means for supporting a gear in :lined relation to said annulus, a pair ot rollers .disposed upon opposite sides of a plane containing` the axis of said annulus, said pair ot rollers and annulus being mounted to move relatively to each other, a contact element disposed between said pair oit' rollers and said annulus, and means acting through said rollers to maintain said contact element in engagement with said annulus, whereby it rolls on the latter during relative movement of said annulus and said pair oli' rollers, and means including a describer on said contact ele-v mentarranged to engage a gear tooth ot a gear on said gear supporting means lor indicating any displacement of said describer during said relative movement.

18. In apparatus ot the class described, the combination ol a support, a supporting member on said support tor supporting a gear, an annulus disposed concentric to said supporting member, a trame mounted to ro tat-e about the axis of a gear supported on said supporting member, a contact element mounted between and having sliding engagement with said trame and a rolling engagement with said annulus, whereby relative rolling movement takes place between said` contact element and said annulus during relative rotating movement between said trame and said supporting member, a describer movably mounted on said contact element and disposed in engagement with a tooth tace of the gear on said supporting member.

19. In apparatus of the class described, the combination oi an annulus, means for supporting a gear in a fixed relation and concentric to said annulus, a contact element having a straight edge disposed in engag-ement with said annulus, said annulus and said contact element being mounted for relative movement whereby a rolling contactone with the other is effected, means acting ina directionsubstantiallfvY radially ot said annulus 'for maintaining said Contact in engagement with .said annulus, and a describer movably mounted on said contact element and disposed in engagement with a tooth tace ot a gear on said supporting means.

Q0. In apparatus oit the' class described, the combination o'l a support for a gear, an annulus member co-aizial with a gear on said support, a contact element having a straight edge in engagement with the annulus and adapted to be rolled thereupon and around the axis ot the supported gear, a describer mounted for movement with the contact element and engaging a tooth face of the supported gear, and means acting radially with respect to said axis to maintain the contact element and the annulus in en gag-ement with each other.

2l. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a supporting means for a gear, an annulus in concentric relation to one circle of the gear when on said support ing means, a pair ol relatively movable elements, one -oit said elements and said supporting means being mounted 'for relative movement about the axis ol the supported gear and the other element being disposed between said lirst mentioned element and said annulus and arranged to roll thereon during relative movement between said first mentioned element and said supporting means.

22. In apparatus ol the class described, the combination of a supporting means tor a gear, an annulus in concentric relation to one circle olfthe gear when on said supporting means, a pair of relatively movable ele ments, one ol? said elements and said supporting means being` mounted lor relative movement about the axis ot the supported gear and the other element being` disposed between said first mentioned element and said annulus and arranged to slide on said lirst mentioned element and toroll on said aninilus during relative movement between said lirst mentioned element and said supporting means.

23. In apparatus ot the class described, the combination olf a support tor a gear, an annulus in concentric relation to one circle ot the gear when on said support, a frame, a pair ot abutments on said trame disposed at opposite sides olf a plane containing the axis of the supported gear, a contact element disposed between said abutments and said annulus, and indicating means mounted on `said contact element and having a member arranged to engage the tooth. 0i the supported gear.. Y

24. In apparatus ot the class described, the combination of a support for a gear, an annulus in concentric relation to one circle ot the gear when on said support, a frame, a pair olf abutments on said trame disposed at opposite sides of a plane containing the 6 i i Y 1,634,328

axisofthe supported gear, a Contact element arranged to support them in a reversed rela` disposed between said abutments and said tion to permitl engagement v'of said member annuius;` and indicating means Iremovably with the othertooth faces of the Supported flo! mounted lon said Contact element and having;` gear.. i

a member arranged to engage correSr'ionding` In Vtestimony whereof; I have. vhereuntoy faces of the Supported gear teeth, the mount .Signed my name.

i VingV devices for said indicating means being ERNST Ji i 

